Air-bearing for high speeds.



S. Z. DE PERRANTI.

AIR BEARING FOR HIGH STEEDS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.13,1906.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

FERRANTI, a subject ofthe Kin UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

SEBASTIAN ZIANI FERRANTI, OF HAMIS'IEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND.

l `AIR-BEARING FOR HIGH SPEEDS.

Specication of Letters Patent.`

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application med August 18, 1906. Serial'No. 830,478.

To all 'wwm 'it may concern: v

Be it known that I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE of Great Britain and Ireland, andresi g at 31 Lyndhurst road, Hampstead, London, N. W., England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relatin to Air-Bearings for High Speeds, of whic the following is a speclficatlon.

This invention relates to improvements in air bearings for high speedsand is especially l applicable to spinning, doubling and like machines.A

In the specifications of my patent applications Nos., 260,120 and272,560, I have described certain improvements in air bearings and theira plication to textile machinery 'which have got their main object theobtaining of much higher rates of production than 2@ are now common intextile work.

Now the present invention has for its oblject to provide improved airbearings for Working at high speeds.

y improvements consist in the following 25 elements: I have found in theapplication j of air bearin s in textile machinery for high speeds thatt power absorbed under such conditions increases more rapidly than thegenerally of the type which rotate about a vertical axis and are ysoconstructed that a film of air of very small dimensions maintains therotating part centrally within the standing bearin As the axis ofrotation is vertical, and t e drive of such a type as to givepractically a uniform torque, it follows that the parts have very littleload to carry other than their own weight, and that due to the drag ofthe material. Under these conditions the wer absorbed becomes a seriousfactor in t e efficiency of the bearing especially when working at suchhigh speeds. According to my first im rovement, I effect a substantialincrease in t eefliciency of the bearing by interposing one or morerunning bearing parts between the stationary and the highest speedrotating part of the bearing.

In an air bearing constructed in accordance with my first improvement afurther advantageous result may be effected by caus- A ing theinterposed running bearing part to be supported 1n an air bornemannerand arranged preferably in series with respect to the supportingmedium for the highest speed rot-ating part. This I provide for accord--lng to my second improvement by forming flanges on the running bearingparts, which fianges are so proportioned and situated as to be acted onby any convenient air pressure to attain the desired result. -(a) Inapplying my second improvement to a ring flier or the like, as describedin my applications Nos. 260120 and 272560 and turbine element at thetop, I?

having the preferably disbearing parts. the type above described andhaving turbine elements situated at the bottom, I

(b) While in a ring flier of the i preferably allow the exhaust of theturbine to operate on the flanges of all the running l parts to supportthe weight thereof.

In carryin my first and second improvements into e ect according to onemodification, I do not rotate the running part ini side a standingbearing, but I rotate itinsquare of the speed. These bearings are sideone or more similar tube parts capable Ithe main high speed part.

I accomplish this according to one method by means of an air pressureunder fianges which are formed on the bushed and main part. A

f small amount of air at say about one pound est flange.

pressure is allowed to leak in below the low- This raises the lowestflange, and then, through the rise of this flange,

escapes to a chamber formed between the lowest flange and the next oneabove it, actlng 1n a similar way on thls flange and on any successiveflanges of the rotating parts of the bearing.

When the several parts forming the bearing and the main rotating parthave their dead weight taken, and the main rotating part is for exampledriven around by a tur- I given to the main rotatin part and the otherone or more parts wil rotate, but at a speed less than vthat of the mainrotatin part. They will range themselves 1n spee according to theresistance to motion of the several parts. In this way very high speedsmay Abe obtained with exceedingly small power,4 as the surface seedbetween an two parts is thus kept quite moderate. Where elastic fluidbearings using this prin- `cipleeare employed, and which have their axisvertical, it is necessary to provide some mechanical means to limit theend motion of the intermediate running bearin parts; and this may bedone by means of lba ancing surfaces fed with elasticiuid at each end ofthe intermediate running bearing parts.

Referrin now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my inventionand form part of my specificatiomlFigure 1 is a sectional elevation of aturbine-driven ring ilier provided with bearings constructed accordingto my invention. Fig. 2 shows a' modified arrangement to that shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a detail view of a ring iiier similar to that shownin Fig. 1 but provided with multiple running bearing arts. Fig. 4illustrates one method of app ying my invention to a ring flier havingthe turbine element at the bottom. t Fig. 5 shows a modified arrangementto that shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, which are of a diagrammatic nature, where desirable,similar parts are denoted by the same reference symbols. In applying myim rovements by way of examp e to a turbineriven ring flier as describedin my applications Nos. 260120 and 272560 in which the turbine elementis situated at its upper extremity according to one modification Iinsert a running bearing part, 1, between the stationary bearing part,a, and the ring iier, b. The ring flier, Z?, carries turbine blades, c,at its upper extremity which are shielded by a ring, d, having holes, e,disposed therein at suitable intervals to allow a free passage for theexhaust. The' ring, cl, incloses and shields the blades, c, as much aspossible so as to reduce to a minimum the losses due to the fanningaction of the blades. This method of reducing thefanning action of theblades forms no part of the present invention and is not herein claimed.The air which forms the working fluid is suppliedyby the pipe, f, and isdischarged through nozzles, g, to operate on the turbine blades, c. Theexhaust from the blades passes to a chamber, L, where it acts on the iane, z', of the ring flier to support the dea -Weight thereof. The actionof the air on the ange, i causes it to be lifted suiiciently so as toallow the escape of the working fluid either directly to the atmosphereor to the exhaust trunk according to the construction of the machine.

It will thus be seen that the part, b, has its dead weight supported ona cushion of elastic fluid. In or er to support the running bearing part1 in a similar manner I cause a flange, 2, to be formed on it whichiange rests in a seat, j, formed on the dished top of the stationarypart, a. Air undei a small pressure, say lb. per square inch, isintroduced by a pipe, s, into an annular chamber, Z, situated betweenthe stationary part, a, and the casing", m, and is led underneath theflange, 2, by holes, n, formed at suitable intervals in the stationarypart, a. The operation of the air on the Han e, 2, causes it to belifted and supported an at the same time allows the air to escape to theexhaust or to the atmosphere by the annular passare, o.

he amount of diametrical clearance between the air bearing parts hereindescribed should beof the oider for air bearin which I have described inmy patent specifications above cited, so that a bearing construct-ed asabove in addition to having all its bearing surfaces air lubricated hasthe dead-weight of the rotating parts supported on a cushion of elasticfluid. Suitable precautions should also be taken with respect to thecondition of the air which will also be found in the above cited secifications. y

A modifie arran ement to the above described is shown in ig. 2. In thiscase the exhaust from the turbine is utilized to support the dead-Weightof all the rotating parts. In the form shown, ducts, p, arranged atsuitable intervals around the circumference of the casing, m, lead theturbine exhaust from the chamber, li, to the support-f ing flange, 2, ofthe part, 1, and passes to the exhaust by the passage, o, in a similarmanner to that described with reference to Fig. 1. In some circumstancesI find it desirable to insert more than one running bearing part and inFig. 3 I have shown an example of a bearing provided with two runningbearing parts. parts, 1 and 3, are provided with flanges, 2, and 4,which rest in stepped seats, j and g', formed on the stationary part, a.The air for supporting the bearing parts, 1 and 3, is supplied by thepipe, k, and passes to the ange, 4, which it lifts and suports, theoperation of liftin the flange, 4, introducing the air below the ange,2, upon which it acts in v a similar manner finally escaping totheexhaust by the annular passage, o. The ring flier, I), is supported bythe exhaust from the turbine in the manner hereinbefore described. Theserunning bearing parts may in some cases extend for the greater part ofthe stationary bearin while in other cases they may be dispose at eachend of the stationary part.

In applying my improvements to a ring iiier having the turbine elementsituated at In this case the running bearing its lower extremity Iprefer the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig; 4 the easing, m, is directly inserted in the supplyand exhaust working fluid trunks, v and w, and the working fluid afteroperating on the turbine blades, c, is led through a passage, formedbetween the casing, m, and the stationary part a, lugs, y, beingdisposed at convenient positions on. the casing, m, to preserve therelative positions ofthe parts. Running bearing parts, 1 and 3, areinserted between the stationary part, a, and the flier, b, the flanges,2 and 4, of which rest on stepped seats, j and q, formed on the casing,m. The flier, b, is also provided with a flange, z',

which likewise rests on a seat formed on thev casing, m'. The threesupporting Hanges,

2, 4 and z', are thus arranged in series with respect to the supportingmedium, which in this case is the turbine exhaust, and are lifted insuccession and supported, the lifting opera-tion of one of the series ofA,lianges introducing the supporting fluid to the nexto the series untilit finally escapes to the exhaust trunk by ports, z, opened by theliftinv' of the flange, i.

n Fig. 5 an arrangement showing enlarged c earance spaces, s, isillustrated but in other respects it is similar to that shown in Fig. aand already described with reference thereto. g

lt is advisable that the high s eed rotating part should be rotated byan e ectro motor, turbine or other substantially 'pure couple drive. Bya ure couple drive I wish to be understo a drive of the type in whichthe unbalanced componentin a radial direction is small, so as to preventas faras possible vany chance of rupture of the air films between-thevarious bearing parts owing to excessive side thrust occasioned by thenature of the drive.

So long as the unbalanced component in a radial direction with respectto the axis of rotation is small as in the case of a turbine actuated byair under smalLpressure I find lthat it is not essential to providenozzles symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of the turbineand the nozzles may be disposed at one side only without rupturing theair films between the various bearing parts. Y f

Iwish it to be Vunderstood that although l have illustrated anddescribed the application of my invention to ring fliers in whichthevrotational axis is in the vertical plane, I

do not in any way limit myself to such application as my invention 1s oflgeneral applicationy and can be advantageously applied to increase theeliiciency of other high speed rotating parts having their axis ofrotation fin the horizontal or `other plane.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention,

kposed between said bearin l;` An air bearing having in combinationnavbe'aring member; a high speed rotatable member; one or more runningmembers dis- `posed between said bearing and said high speed .rotatablemembers together with air lubricated surfaces on co-actmg bearingportions of said members.

2.,- An air bearing having in combination a bearing member, a high speedvrotatable member; one or more running members disposed between saidbearing and said high speed rotatable members, air lubricated surfaces,on co-acting bearing portions of said members togetherwith means forsupport'- mg dead weight of certain of said members. 3. An air bearinghaving in combination a bearing member; a high speed rotatable member,one or more running members disand said high speed' rotatable members;air lubricated sur- `faces on co-acting bearing portions of said memberstogether with elastic fluid means for supporting dead weight of certainof said members.

4.- An air bearing having in combination, a stationary member; a highspeed rotatable member; a turbine mount-ed on said high speed rotatablemember; one or more running members disposed between said stationary andsaid high speed rotatable members, air lubricated surfaces on co-actinbearing portions of saidf members toget er with means for supportingdead weight of certain of said members, said means including the exhaustfluid from said turbine.

5. An air bearing having in combination a bearing member; a high speedrotatable member; one or more running members disposed between saidbearing and said` high speed rotatable members, air lubricated surfaceson co-'acting bearing portions of said members together with means forimparting a pure coup e drive to said high speed rotatable art.

6. n air bearing having in combination a stationary member; a high speedrotatable member; one or more running members disposed between saidstationary and said high speed rotatable members, air'lubricatedsurfaces on co-actin bearing portions of said members, means orsupporting dead weight of certain of said members together with apure'couple drive for said high speed rotai -8. In a spinning, twistingor doubling ma- Dated this 4th day of Auo'ust 1906.

chine, the combination of an operative rotai111 testimon whereof, Iax-my signature table twisting member; a bearing member; in"'presence otwo witnesses. one or more running members disposed be- SEBASTIAN ZIANIDE FERRANTI. 5 tween said twisting and bearing members to- Witnesses:

gether with air-lubricated surfaces on co- CHAs. N. DANIELS,

acting bearing portions of saidmembers. LUTHER J. PARR.

